System and Method for Lacrosse Including a Collapsible Field Marking Device

ABSTRACT

A lacrosse system including a portable, collapsible field marker, a system of weights for a lacrosse stick, a lacrosse ball cleaner, and a pocket former for a lacrosse stick that solves the problems discussed above. The collapsible field marker having a series of elongated segments, each segment attachable to two adjacent segments forming a series of segments, the series of segments attachable end-to-end to form a closed polygon in a closed configuration or unattached end-to-end to form a geometric pattern in an open configuration; each segment including a semi rigid center member enclosed by a thin flat marking strip; an expandable cord passing through the rigid center member of each segment attaching the series of segments together or flexible connectors on ends of each of said segments attaching the series of segments together.

This application is related to, and claims priority from, U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 61/698,667 filed Sep. 9, 2012.Application 61/698,667 is hereby incorporated by reference in itsentirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to the game of lacrosse and moreparticularly to a system and method for this sport that contains variousintegral parts.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Lacrosse is a well-known team sport played with sticks, balls and nets,each uniquely designed for the game. The games are played on a grass orturf field with markings designating specific areas of the field. Thelacrosse stick consists of a shaft with molded resin head which includesa flexible mesh pocket that is generally shaped like a lacrosse ball. Alacrosse ball is a solid rubber ball molded in a highly visible color.Lacrosse goals are trapezoidal in shape and are placed within a markedcircular area on the field called a crease. Prior art creases weregenerally painted or tacked onto the field.

The pocket in the lacrosse stick was previously manipulated to the shapeof the lacrosse ball by using an actual lacrosse ball or similarlyshaped instrument to press the shape against the mesh pocket.

Lacrosse balls were previously cleaned by hand or with a hand brush toremove dirt and scuff marks in order to retail the high visibilitycolor.

Lacrosse sticks were sometimes weighted during practices to help improvethe player's strength and performance. Weighting the stick in differentareas provides additional strength conditioning in specific areas.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a lacrosse system including a portable,collapsible field marker, a system of weights for a lacrosse stick, alacrosse ball cleaner, and a pocket former for a lacrosse stick thatsolves the problems discussed above. The collapsible field marker havinga series of elongated segments, each segment attachable to two adjacentsegments forming a series of segments, the series of segments attachableend-to-end to form a closed polygon in a closed configuration orunattached end-to-end to form a geometric pattern in an openconfiguration; each segment including a semi rigid center memberenclosed by a thin flat marking strip; an expandable cord passingthrough the rigid center member of each segment attaching the series ofsegments together or flexible connectors on ends of each of saidsegments attaching the series of segments together.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Attention is now directed to several drawing that illustrate thefeatures of the present invention.

FIG. 1A shows the shape of a complete crease according to presentinvention.

FIG. 1B shows an enlargement of part of the embodiment of the creasefrom FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2 shows parts of the foldable crease according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 3A shows positions of an adjustable weight inside a lacrosse stickaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 3B shows different weights and weight accessories.

FIG. 4 shows different parts of a lacrosse ball cleaner according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 5 shows details of a lacrosse pocket former according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 6 shows alternate configurations for crease of FIGS. 1A, 1B and 2.

Several drawings and illustrations have been presented to aid inunderstanding the present invention. The scope of the present inventionis not limited to what is shown in the figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1A shows a complete crease 1 according to the present invention inits unfolded, ready-to-play shape. This crease is foldable and portable.It comes apart in sections. The crease 1 is assembled from severalsections 2 that connected together 3. FIG. 1B shows a section, or closeup, of the crease segments. Each segment is connected to the adjacentsegment to form a circle. A standard crease is 18 feet in diameter. Ifeach segment is approximately 36 inches long, it takes 19 segments tomake the complete crease. The segments are a combination of a rigidcenter spine and a thin, flexible marking strip integrally connected tothe spine. The segments are attached together with a flexible connectorsuch as a continuous elastic band that runs through the hollow centerspines of the segments or by flexible connectors at the ends of eachsegment. FIG. 6 shows the segments of the foldable crease in additionalconfigurations either as a straight line or zig-zag orientation commonlyused for speed and agility conditioning.

On the left in FIG. 2 is the disassembled crease 10 with the individualsections folded together. FIG. 2 also shows an individual sectionassembly 9, which includes the structural rod with a connecting endfeature installed within a flexible sleeve. The rod 6 can be seen in anend view of the individual section assembly 9. The flexible sleeve 8 andthe rod body 7 can also be seen shown separately in FIG. 2. A rod port 5can be seen as well as the rod end 4.

FIG. 3A shows an adjustable shaft-weight assembly for a lacrosse stick20 with a pocket 21. The first two drawings from the left in FIG. 3Ashow an adjustable shaft weight 22 assembly installed within the hollowshaft 20 of a lacrosse stick according to the present invention. Thisadjustable shaft weight can be moved fore and aft inside the shaft toachieve the desired center-of-gravity. The next five views in FIG. 3Ashow various multiple possible positions of the adjustable shaft weight.The shaft weight can be positioned at the top of the shaft, middle,bottom, or at any position along the weight positioning rod. Additionalshaft weights may be installed on the weight positioning rod to increasethe weight of the stick. The next three sticks in FIG. 3A show thepossible combinations of shaft weights 24 installed on the weightpositioning rod ranging from a full set of weights to a single weightpositioned on the rod. The small details 23 and 25 in FIG. 3A show thepositioning rod, the top 25 and bottom 23 ends of the rod configured tohold the rod and installed weights securely within the hollow shaft ofthe lacrosse stick. Also shown in FIG. 3B is the adjustable weightcylinder and positioning features that hold the weight securely to therod and also prevent the rod and weight assembly from shifting withinthe hollow shaft of the lacrosse stick. A possible embodiment is athreaded rod that incorporates a movable stopper with a mating threadfeature that allows the stopper to engage with the threaded rod. Thestopper with threaded feature would allow the weight cylinder to besecurely positioned at any point along the threaded rod.

FIG. 4 shows a ball cleaner according to the present invention. Shown inthe figure are multiple views of the lacrosse ball cleaner including thesliding ball carriage 31 positioned within a tubular frame 30. Alsoshown are the two opposing, removable abrasive pads 32 connectedlyattached to the inside of the tubular frame. The carriage 31 has a largehole 34 that holds the ball and a smaller finger hole 33 that allows thecarriage 31 to be moved in and out of the tubular frame 30. When theball is inserted into the large hole 34 which is sized to receive it,the assembly can be inserted into the carriage 31 and moved in and outto clean the ball against the abrasive pads 32. While any abrasive padsmay be used with the present invention, the preferred abrasive pads arethin SCOTCHBRITE™ scrubbing pads manufactured by 3M.

FIG. 5 shows a pocket former for a lacrosse stick with a pocket 41. Awire holder 44 is formed to slide over and attach to the shaft of thestick 40 with the extending section of the holder positioned over themesh portion 41 of the lacrosse stick head. The adjustable pocketforming assembly, which includes a threaded shaft with positioningfeature, is installed between the mesh 41 of the stick and the extendingsection of the wire holder 44. The pocket former includes a forming ball43 on a handle 42. The handle of the adjustable pocket forms an assemblythat can be twisted to extend the threaded portion of the pocket formingassembly so that the forming ball 43 can be pressed into the pocket 41shaping the pocket. The extending action of the adjustable pocketforming assembly applies pressure to the fabric mesh 41. The wire frame44 of the pocket forming assembly attached to the shaft of the lacrossestick can be moved along the axis of the shaft allowing for multiplepositions for the forming ball 43 within the mesh 41 of the lacrossestick. The forming ball 42 should be hard and rigid in order to form thepocket. While any material may be used for the forming ball, thepreferred material is a wood ball with a relatively smooth surface.

FIG. 6 shows alternate configurations for the crease system embodimentof FIGS. 1A, 1B and 2. Any crease configuration is within the scope ofthe present invention.

The entire system forms part of a complete lacrosse apparatus including,but not limited to, a foldable crease, a system of lacrosse stickweights, a lacrosse ball cleaner, and a lacrosse pocket former.

In particular embodiments of the present invention, the elastic bandrunning through the entire assembly could be replaced by smaller endcaps incorporating an elastic band between and connecting each segment.In other embodiments, an extruded or molded segment with ball and socketconnections molded into either end can be used. In embodiment thesegments can include a semi rigid segment attached to the adjacentsegment incorporating an interlocking connection that securely attachesone segment end to the adjacent segment end using a ball and socket orother mechanism.

Several descriptions and illustrations have been presented that aid inunderstanding features of the present invention. One with skill in theart will realize numerous changes and variations can be made withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention. Each of these changes andvariations is within the scope of the present invention.

I claim:
 1. A portable, folding field marker device comprising: a seriesof elongated segments, each segment attachable to two adjacent segmentsforming a series of segments, the series of segments attachableend-to-end to form a closed polygon in a closed configuration or capableof being unattached end-to-end to form a geometric pattern in an openconfiguration; each segment including a semi rigid center memberenclosed by a thin flat marking strip.
 2. The portable, folding fieldmarker device of claim 1 wherein said series of segments are attachedend-to-end to form an approximate circle representing a lacrosse crease.3. The portable, folding field marker device of claim 2 wherein saidapproximate circle is approximately 18 feet in diameter.
 4. Theportable, folding field marker device of claim 1 wherein each of saidsegments is approximately 36 inches long.
 5. The portable, folding fieldmarker device of claim 1 wherein said series of segments are notattached end-to-end and arranged to form a line segment.
 6. Theportable, folding field marker device of claim 1 wherein said series ofsegments are not attached end-to-end and arranged to form a zig-zagconfiguration.
 7. The portable, folding field marker device of claim 1wherein said segments are slightly curved.
 8. The portable, foldingfield marker device of claim 1 wherein said thin flat marking strip isflexible.
 9. A portable, folding field marker device comprising: aseries of elongated segments, each segment attachable to two adjacentsegments forming a series of segments, the series of segments attachableend-to-end to form a closed polygon in a closed configuration or capableof being unattached end-to-end to form a geometric pattern in an openconfiguration; each segment including a semi rigid center memberenclosed by a thin flat marking strip; an expandable cord passingthrough the rigid center member of each segment attaching the series ofsegments together or flexible connectors on ends of each of saidsegments attaching the series of segments together.
 10. The portable,folding field marker device of claim 9 wherein said series of segmentsare attached end-to-end to form an approximate circle representing alacrosse crease.
 11. The portable, folding field marker device of claim10 wherein said approximate circle is approximately 18 feet in diameter.12. The portable, folding field marker device of claim 9 wherein each ofsaid segments is approximately 36 inches long.
 13. The portable, foldingfield marker device of claim 9 wherein said series of segments are notattached end-to-end and arranged to form a line segment.
 14. Theportable, folding field marker device of claim 9 wherein said series ofsegments are not attached end-to-end and arranged to form a zig-zagconfiguration.
 15. The portable, folding field marker device of claim 9wherein said segments are slightly curved.
 16. The portable, foldingfield marker device of claim 9 wherein said thin flat marking strip isflexible.
 17. A method for providing portable, folding field markerdevice comprising: providing a series of elongated segments, eachsegment attachable to two adjacent segments forming a series ofsegments, the series of segments attachable end-to-end to form a closedpolygon in a closed configuration or capable of being unattachedend-to-end to form a geometric pattern in an open configuration,providing for each segment a semi rigid center member enclosed by a thinflat marking strip; providing an expandable cord passing through therigid center member of each segment attaching the series of segmentstogether or providing flexible connectors on ends of each of saidsegments attaching the series of segments together.
 18. The method ofclaim 17 wherein each of said segments is approximately 36 inches long.19. The method of claim 17 wherein said series of segments can beconnected end-to-end to form an approximate circle approximately 18 feetin diameter.
 20. The method of claim 17 wherein said segments areslightly curved.